Celebrate Waiting

Galatians 4:4

“When the fullness of time was come…” God’s timing is always right! He knows when the time is ripe for him to intervene into any situation. We don’t always understand this because we are impatient and want immediate results. We can be selfish and only think of what’s best for us and not realize how others are going to be affected by the outcome. We are limited in our knowledge of the complete situation and can’t see how a good or bad decision at the time can maybe have a negative impact on others later down the road.

The best way to illustrate my point is that God promised Abraham and Sarah a son. It would be around 25 years later when they thought it was impossible to have children that God brought this promise about. In the meantime, both Abraham and Sarah grew impatient and decided to do this their own way and in their own time. Abraham went into Sarah’s handmaiden Hagar and conceived Ishmael, which not only created problems for Abraham in his day but has had lasting effects through Jewish and world history up to our very own day. This is what happens when things are done in our time and not according to God’s overall view of history.

There is a value and reward in waiting. Maybe you are facing a big decision in your life, career, or family right now. You may feel bogged down and are ready for a change but don’t know which way to go or what to do. The answer is to wait on God! To pray for his leading and guiding. To seek his will in the matter and ask that he will “direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)

In this Advent season we celebrate waiting! God surely could have sent Jesus' way before he did, but it would not have been the right time. There were many things in history that had to take place before Jesus could come. We may not and never understand why it had to be in 4 AD. But we don’t need to understand! We just need to be thankful that God sent his son to redeem sinful man from under the weight of the Law.

Now as we await the second coming of Christ, we also have to be patient in knowing that he will return “when the fullness of time will come.” But with patience and waiting there is longing. And with longing there is a crying out and hastening in praying “Even so come Lord Jesus!”

Until then “May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. Amen!”

Pastor Robby